Concerns over flu forecast amid changes in CDC's recommended immunization schedule

In the two weeks since Christmas, flu activity in California has jumped from moderate to high.

This comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it is scaling back on recommended childhood vaccines including the flu shot. But, there are things you can do to help protect yourself.

This season's flu, driven by new variant subclade K, is responsible for an estimated five thousand deaths so far with at least ten of them in children.

These numbers come just days after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and federal health officials removed the universal recommendation that all children over 6-months get the annual flu vaccine.

"Many parents who want to do the right thing will be confused, "said Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Besser, who is a former acting CDC Director, says of the nearly 300 children who died from the flu last year, 90% were not vaccinated.

"The vaccine's not perfect. You may still get the flu. But it sure does a good job at reducing the chances that a child will be hospitalized or die from this," Dr. Besser said.

Dr. Sherril Brown is Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Altamed.

"In Southern California, we're seeing a big jump in influenza cases," Dr. Brown said.

Brown says those coming in with the most severe disease include the elderly, pregnant women and children. Those patients would benefit the most from a flu shot despite it not being a perfect match this season.

"When they look at data from Europe for people that were vaccinated, it did significantly decrease the risk of severe disease, especially in young kids, "said Dr. Brown.

Flu activity is expected to remain high for the rest of this month into February.

Besides a flu shot, Brown advises avoiding being around sick people and masking in crowded indoor spaces.

Brown said, "Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer. And then, of course, if you are sick, stay home so that you're not spreading your germs to other people."

The latest data shows this year's vaccine rate is hovering at 39 percent for adults and 35 percent for children. Flu season has been known to last into March and April. That means it's not too late to get a flu shot.